I went to trade school for body & fender in the 60's. My experience is rattle can paint isn't the same quality as jobber paint. You also don't have the material control with a rattle can that you do with a paint gun so it's very easy to get runs next to dry spots next to bleed through next to....... Having said that I have seen rattle can jobs that look good but I've not had the opportunity to inspect them a few years later. I understand your situation though. Automotive paints have gotten stupid expensive as of late. A local friend owns a body shop that does a lot of restoration, restomod work along with some insurance work. He tells me the insurance companies won't pay the full cost of paint so he has to charge his customers a co-pay. I don't see how the insurance companies can get away with that but I'm not a lawyer.

@tiny Tiny you are standing TOO CLOSE, step back 5 feet. No, you are correct that it is not the same but neither is the one you described from, the original paint job. Those original paint jobs never has the gloss shine of the newer paints. Yes, there are runs and everything else you mentioned. I guess the best way to say it is, some like the rusted patina look, some like the rusted patina gloss look, some like the high gloss new age look, some, and I put myself in this category like the look of the backyard hot rod paint job look. I have 2 gallons of paint and the gun setting on the shelf waiting on the correct car.